Fixing the cloudy headlight lenses

[ablythe]

Thanks TGC, this is a great site. I just found it this week.

I plan on clearing the corners in the next week or so. But my headlight lenses are cloudy. Its not moisture on the inside, its a roughness on the outside. Its probably oxidation and fading from age. I figure while I've got the headlight lenses out, that I should clear those puppies up. If I don't, they'll just continue to look like crap.

Has someone done this before? How do I get my lenses looking new? Sandpaper? Polish?? I've searched on the forum and haven't found anything yet. Thanks for the help.

AB
Dallas, TX
96 Galant S Maroon
4g64 Engine
Newly Overhauled KM-175/176 Auto Trans
New CT-12 Torque Converter
170,000 miles and still smilin' 8)

[pinoyesv6]

polish. first try metal polish. if that don't work, its time to wet sand. start with a fine grit sandpaper and slowly (meaning slow intervals) graduate to finer and finer sandpaper.

[BEAST]

Pinoy is absolutely right. Try some polish. I would say first try some wax or car polish since most likely you have that laying around the house but this will take the haze right out.

[ablythe]

The surface texture of the lens is very rough. It almost feels like sandpaper. I don't think liquid polish is gonna cut it. What is the lens made of? Acrylic, plexiglass,?? I don't know much about the materials. Will wetsanding work?? What grit and what kind of sandpaper should I start with and progress to? I have a digital camera and I can take pics of the progress.

[pinoyesv6]

try out this tutorial. http://www.projectviper.com/neon/howtolamp.html its for a neon but pretty much the same thing as the galant.

[krazienluv10]

is there really a difference i cant tell from the pictures, the before and after pic look the same